Soldier (1998)

SOLDIER is as bad as, say, STARSHIP TROOPERS was good. Paul An-
derson (EVENT HORIZON) directs this militant sci-fi suckfest, er,
western starring Kurt Russell as the title character-- a 21st
Century fighting man who was chosen for combat at birth, trained
through his teens, and now, approaching age forty, has been re-
placed by a newer, genetically engineered model. By turns, he's
scrapped on a scrap planet, rescued by refugees, and banished by
said refugees. (He just ain't peaceable enough for their likes.)
Of course, when the bad guys (his old platoon) come a-callin', he
comes a-runnin' and expectedly saves the day. Yawn. High-tech
weapons, full-scale props, and Russell's well-worn-but-still-buff
bod make for some visuals of interest. The script-- by BLADE RUN-
NER and TWELVE MONKEYS typewriter David Webb Peoples-- is all
cliches, including a Terminator-like turn for Kurt, who speaks
maybe 100 words here. (Beware a painfully slow midsection as
well.) By the bloody end-- a brutal mano-a-mano with Jason Scott
Lee-- most folks will have come to their senses and left. So...
why didn't I? Well, if it's any consolation, I did get my money
back. With Jason Isaacs, Connie Nielsen, Sean Pertwee, Michael
Chiklis, and a very tired-looking Gary Busey. (Rated "R"/100 min.)
Grade: D-
Copyright 1998 Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros